The next administration can vouch on two laws that can help spur the Philippine’s economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

Drilon cited the newly-signed law that amends the 86-year old Public Service Act or Republic Act 11659 or the “Amended Public Services Act” which would open up the country’s public services to competition, and which he authored.

“I laud the timely passage of the Amended Public Service Act. By opening up our public services to competition, this will compel the current players to shape up and boost our foreign direct investments, and provide our people with better choices,” Drilon said in a statement.

“I am proud of shepherding its passage in the Senate both as a principal author and as a co-sponsor together with Senator Grace Poe. I am happy that after years of efforts, we now have an amended Public Service Act that is truly reflective of the present needs of our country and our people,” the veteran lawmaker added.

Drilon also said two other laws he authored—the Amended Retail Trade Law and the Revised Corporation Code—would help the country be in a better position to tackle the economic slump due to the pandemic.

Drilon said “these laws will help the next administration in leading the recovery of the Philippine economy.”

“Through RA 11659, together with the Amended Retail Trade Liberalization Act, we can address these so-called economic roadblocks that have prevented us from reaching our economic potential. We will see further rise of FDIs in the coming months and an improvement in our economy,” said the outgoing senator.

“These laws will stimulate the economy, promote competition in business, enhance the ease of doing business, and generate more jobs,” he stressed.

Drilon, a staunch supporter of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is seeking the presidency in the upcoming May 2022 elections together with Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, is leaving a number of economic reform laws as legacy as he ends his fourth term as senator on June 30, 2022.

Among the measures he helped usher into law include the Philippine Competition Act, which outlaws and penalizes anti-competitive agreements; the Cabotage Law to lower the cost of domestic shipping; amendments to the Foreign Investment Negative List, which liberalizes the ownership of lending, adjustment and financing companies; and the Tax Incentives Monitoring and Transparency Act (TIMTA).

He also helped pushed for the passage of the Go Negosyo Law; the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act; and amendments to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). He also authored the GOCC Governance Act.